jwr914

Thanks Greg for the tips, hopefully I can use them. As you know those old off road motorcycle racing days seem to help me with learning a new track but I do watch video of people I trust and admire. I'm going up to Canada next week to cement the deal. Everyone down here is mad at me for parking the Honda, but I can only afford so much and with the FA and the Mustang there's not much budget left for the Honda. Luis Rivera begged me to do some suspension work on it and run one more year, but we both know that good shocks cost as much money as a motor. Mostly though I want to get back into a 160 mph car and see just how much the Honda taught me. I know that when I drive the 997 cup car I'm much faster and smoother now.

I did notice the short shift you were making at the crest of the hill(s). The bridge turn was interesting to watch as you began to not follow Jay and follow the SRF line. Way faster and way safer from the video vantage point.

If I do come up with the Mustang, I'll let you drive it on a test day. I owe you that much for all the help at RA and the Chicago Dogs until I just popped last year.

James Rogerson
HP #66 for sale!

Did you thank Jay for helping you refamiliarize yourself with the course. I can't believe he didn't let the SRF take the lead into that last left/right combination before going back to S/F. That turned out to be a huge mistake. I'll replay this a couple of times before the Mitty to learn some of the track. The SRF line seemed to work for you except for the back part jumping the curb. Lot of extra distance to cover and they are much softer sprung than we are. The car is up for sale for real now. If it doesn't sell I'll just keep it and run it every now and then or give it to my son. I had hoped to go back to Mid-Ohio but I've jumped off the big cliff and bought a FA and a Vintage (1965) Mustang to go along with the 510 and CF. Just too many cars to run and I need to learn to drive the old Trans-AM car. Well should say re-learn since I started racing in the 1960's.

James Rogerson
HP #66
2nd Fastest Honda in 2011.

Back in Houston and at work (well at the track). Congratulations to Greg for the great drive. It was perhaps one of my scariest races ever. I chose to go with a lightly grooved slick (cut about 5 inches apart) both front and rear. Don't know if full wets would have been better, but made the choice without ever driving there in the rain. Put my head down with one lap to go and caught up to the rear of Greg's train. I got inside Isley on turn 5 entry and he went off wide with lock up and I made the clean inside pass. Led pretty well all the way to 12 (Canada) and he returned the favor. I was mid track and left him enough room right or left to make the banzai pass thinking he would go off again. Well as we all know now he saved it and didn't take either of us out. Great piece of driving himself. Greg is right, I'm happy with the finish position. Drove as hard as I could and so did Greg, Dick, Jason and Matt. My car was just the opposite of Greg's fast as hell in the front and scary, scary, scary from 8 to 12. The start was pretty worrisome for all of us. Some of the back guys jumped up into the mix and took each other out by turn 5. Greg and I barely made it through 3 without getting hit. Matt Brannon said he got hit and knocked off track by the yellow car that spun in front/beside Greg and I on 3 exit. Luckily he was able to continue and work his way back up.

My windshield was "OK" with the RainX applied the day before. RA is long and fast keeping the inside of the car cooler than shorter tracks. It doesn't work with short tracks.

Most likely will sell the car this year as I made a three year commitment to HP and it's time is up. If it doesn't sell I will run enough races to qualify again. We'll just have to wait and see if I do decide to run RA again. Long hard haul up and back. The week of Hotel expense is bothersome as well.

Thanks to Greg for all the help and advice these last couple of years. He's become a true friend and great competitor. My first year to RA he gave me his spare caliper when I lost one in Qualifying. You just can't ask for better than that.

James Rogerson
HP #66
4th and proud of it!

HP Civic for sale only driven on weekends by senior citizen. Spares include extra built engine (never run), both engines with uncut stock heads direct from Honda. Titanium valves. The list goes on and on. $25,000

Most of our cars can only stand about 4 inches of offset. 3 inches at the very least.

I'll be there Saturday. We're in the same location as last year. Look for the MSR Houston banner.

James Rogerson
HP #66